Thumb-tack.



v T. E. TRACY.

THUMB TACK. ABPLIOATiON FILED JUNE 25, 1910.

1,002,609. 7 I Patented Sept. 5,1911.

11v VEZV TOR.

WITNESSES:

A TTORNE Y.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH cu. WASHINGTON. l). s.

THOMAS E. TRACY, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

THUMB-TACK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 5, 1911.

Application filed June 25, 1910. Serial No. 568,809.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS E. TRACY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Thumb-Tacks; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in thumb tacks and has for its object to provide a device of that class which may be easily and quickly removed from a drawing board without soiling the paper through which it has been projected. In accomplishing this object I use a thumb tack having a point and head substantially similar to the ordinary tack, but provide same with a bail, which may fold over the edge of the tack head and carry out the contour thereof when the tack is in place, but which may be raised to lift the tack when the latter is to be removed.

The preferred form of my improvement is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure I is a plan view of a thumb tack, constructed according to my invention. Fig. II is an inverted plan view of same. Fig. III is a vertical section showing the journal boss and sockets. Fig. IV is a cross section showing the tack applied to a board, with the bail lowered in full lines, and the bail raised and the tack slightly lifted, in dotted lines.

Referring more in detail to the parts 1-1 designate the tack head which is provided with the opposed, radial, edge slots 2, the part 1 being of greater diameter than the part 1, and provided with the ofiset recesses 3. On its inner face, at the center, the head 1 is provided with a boss 4:, the lower face of which is in'a plane with the beveled edge of the head and is provided with a point 5 of ordinary construction. In the side of the boss 4, in line with the head slots 2 are journal sockets 6, within which the shanks 7, of a bail 8 are revolubly seated. The shanks 7 are rounded and curved downwardly at their ends, so that the bail may rest flat against the surface to which the tack may be applied, and the bail is beveled to correspond to, and carry out the contour of the head portion 1, so that when the tack is in position on a piece of work, the head and hail will present the outline and appearance of an ordinary thumb tack. I prefer to provide the bail with the end ears 9, which project laterally from the shanks 7 at their outer ends, so that when the bail is lifted, the ears engage the board, or other surface to which the tack is applied, and exert a leverage thereagainst which serves to lift the tack therefrom as the bail is being raised. When the bail is flat against the board, the ears 9 lie within the recesses 3.

It is apparent that my improved thumb tack may be used in the ordinary manner, and that when it is in position it will hold a paper to a drawing board, like an ordinary thumb tack. The bail 8 being beveled to conform with the contour of the tack head and lying against the edge of the head, does not interfere with the draftsman, and the arrangement of the bail is such that no protruding corners are presented. When the tack is to be removed, the bail 8 is lifted and the ears 9 press against the board and tend to lift the tack therefrom, so that the point is started out of the wood and may be easily removed by lifting the bail.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters-Patent is 1. A thumb tack comprising a head portion having slots in opposite sides thereof and a bail having shanks pivotally connected with the tack and adapted to turn in said slots, for the purpose set forth, there being a concaved recess between the boss and edge of the head, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. A thumb tack comprising a head having a boss on its under face provided with edge sockets, and a bail having shanks turned under said head and journaled in said sockets.

8. In a thumb tack, a head having a boss on its under face provided with opposed edge sockets, the edges of said head being cut away in line with the boss sockets, and a bail having shanks extended through the cut away portions of said head and journaled in said sockets and provided with ears, substantially as set forth.

4:. In a thumb tack, a head having opposed edge slots, the portion of the head, at

" circular'bail' of a diameter equal to that of one side of the slots, being of less diameter.

than the portion at the opposite side, and a bail pivotally mounted in said slots and adapted to lie over the outer edge of the portion of less diameter, substantially as set forth.,

In a thumb tack, a head having semicircular portions of greater and less diameter, and. a semi-circular bail pivotally connected with said head, the diameter of said bail being equal to that of the larger head portion, said bail being adapted to lie over the edge of the smaller head portion, substantially as set forth.

6. In a thumb tack, a head having semicircular portions of greater and less diame- -ter, partially divided by opposed edge slots and having a boss on'its under face, a semitions of greater and less diameter, the portion of greater diameter having back-set re cesses, and a bail pivotally connected with said head and having ears projecting from its ends and adapted to seat in said recess when the bail is at rest and for lifting engagement with an under surface when the bail is raised.

8. In a thumb tack, a head comprising semicircular portions of greater and less diameter, partially divided by opposed edge slots, said slots having off-set recesses extending into the head port-ion of greater diameter, a bail having inturned end shanks projected into said slots and pivotally connected with the head, and ears projecting laterally through said shanks into the offset recesses, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS E. TRACY.

Witnesses:

MYRTLE M. JAoKsoN, FRANK ROSEBERRY.

Copiea of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G. 

